s of the German Ambassador in Paris, and
scorning the rules of international law, German troops crossed our
frontier at three different points.

At the same time, in violation of the Treaty of 1867 guaranteeing the
neutrality of Luxemburg, of which Prussia was a signatory, they invaded
the territory of the Grand Duchy, thus evoking a protest from the
Luxemburg Government.

Finally, even the neutrality of Belgium was menaced. On the evening of
Aug. 2 the German Minister handed to the Belgian Government an ultimatum
demanding that military operations against France be facilitated by
Belgium under the lying pretext that Belgian neutrality was threatened
by us.

The Belgian Government refused, announcing that it had resolved to
defend energetically its neutrality respected by France and guaranteed
by treaties, especially by the King of Prussia.

Since then, gentlemen, acts of aggression have been repeated,
multiplied, and accentuated. Our frontier has been crossed at more than
fifteen places. Rifle shots have been fired at our soldiers and customs
officials. There have been killed and wounded. Yesterday a German
military aviator dropped three bombs on Luneville.

The German Ambassador, to whom, as well as to the other great powers, we
communicated these acts did not deny them, nor even express regret. On
the contrary, he came to me yesterday evening to ask for his passport
and notify us of the existence of a state of war, alleging without
justification hostile acts committed by French aviators on German
territory in the Eiffel region, and even on the railway from Karlsruhe
to Nuremberg. Here is the letter on this subject which he handed to me:

Mr. President: German civil and military authorities have taken
note of a certain number of acts of a hostile character committed
on German territory by French military aviators. Several of the
latter have clearly violated the neutrality of Belgium by flying
over the territory of that nation. One tried to destroy buildings
near Wesel, others were seen over the Eiffel region, another threw
bombs on the railway line between Karlsruhe and Nuremberg.

I have been charged with informing your Excellency, and now have
the honor of doing so, that in view of these acts of aggression the
German Empire now considers itself in a state of war with France as
a result of the acts of the latter power.

I have at the same time the h